The loss of a job is devastating. Even if it was a job where you were not content, the loss of income can have a ripple effect and wreak havoc on every aspect of your life. The emotional aspects can be just as devastating as the financial aspects. You may be left with a bruised ego or damaged self-confidence.

Why Me?If you were let go or laid off for economic reasons, it is a bit easier to understand. Being laid off may have had absolutely nothing to do with your abilities or job performance. It may have been a decision based exclusively on financial stability of the company. Of course, your employer will keep other employees who can do what you were doing, but those employees probably cost the company less money or may have been there longer than you. There may have been some corporate restructuring or technological advances that have effectively eliminated certain positions within the company. Regardless of the reasons, you are left asking “why me”?

Never Burn Bridges Behind YouRequest a meeting with your supervisor or the powers that be. Before the meeting, give the reasons you were let go some serious thought and, during the meeting, ask questions, but do not argue. You need not beg for your job back, but exhibit a strong desire to fully understand the reasons you are being let go. It will show your commitment to doing your job well and wanting to know if there were things you might have been able to improve upon.

Should your employer discover they have made a terrible decision in letting you go, the grace and maturity with which you handled your dismissal will stand out in their memory. By showing that you are open to constructive criticism and desire to have a full understanding of why you were let go and what, if anything, you needed to improve, you just may be the first person they think of to call to come back. If nothing else, you want to be able to use your former employer as a reference for future job opportunities. It also wouldn’t hurt to write a letter to your employer. Nothing over-the-top, just a short note expressing the things you enjoyed about your job and appreciation of the opportunity to be part of their team.

Get Real With YourselfIf your job performance was a factor in your dismissal, take a long, hard look at where you failed to meet your employer’s expectations. Were you consistently late? Were you unprepared for meetings? Did you repeatedly miss deadlines? Take an honest look at your job performance and take responsibility for it. Make changes where needed or, if you can afford it, seek out a job coach, life coach or therapist. You may be struggling with other unrelated issues that are preventing you from being the best you can be at work or at home. If you have personal issues that you have not addressed, they can have a significant impact on your job performance and motivation to do better.

If your dismissal was unjustified or unscrupulous in any way, contact the Better Business Bureau and any governing authorities that possess the power to regulate your place of employment. Review your employee handbook or any contract agreement you may have. There might be terms to your dismissal that you may be unaware of. Oddly enough, many people read the employee guide when they are hired, but too few read it when they have been let go.

Job SecurityAs pessimistic as it may sound, there really is no such thing. No one can predict the future and even highly trained economists can not predict what the future will hold for us. Being a weather forecaster is the only job where you can be wrong every day and still get paid. Even if you run a small business, the economic trends can have a huge impact on your financial stability. Luxury businesses will always suffer in a constricted market. Necessity-based businesses will most likely survive, but not without a certain number of cut-backs. Supply-and-demand businesses will obviously fluctuate and, when supply is down, demand increases, but alternatives are also sought, which drives customers toward other necessity-based businesses. The only way you can have any sense of job security is by making yourself invaluable. Go above and beyond. Set and strive to reach goals higher than your employer expects of you.

Don’t Be a Fool, Stay in School

Continuing education and consistently learning more is one of the best methods of protecting your job. Make certain your employer is aware of your extracurricular activities, outside interests and educational pursuits. If it is related to your profession, it not only shows your commitment to your profession, but it may also provide the opportunity to move to another position within the company. If it is completely unrelated, you have the foundation and basic knowledge that you may be able to utilize when faced with a job loss.

Prepare For The WorstWith the economic uncertainties of today, we have to be as prepared as we possibly can be for the loss of jobs. Many financial planners advise setting aside at least three months’ savings to cover basic living expenses in the event of job loss. With the current cost of living, coupled with the trend of living beyond our reasonable means, this can be difficult. Even if you feel you have job security, have a Plan B. Evaluate what you can eliminate from your budget if you are faced with the loss of a job. What can you scale back? Have you established an emergency savings account? No matter how little money is in there, it may help later.

The current economic pressures and uncertainty should be a wake-up call to everyone. It is never too late to take steps to curtail unnecessary spending and make an effort to avoid falling into the trend of living beyond our means.

Back-Up Plans

Collecting Unemployment

Make sure you are up to speed with unemployment regulations. Depending on the grounds for which you are terminated, you may be able to collect unemployment in the interim.

Unemployment Insurance

Surf the web. While you are still gainfully employed, investigate unemployment insurance programs and premiums. Evaluate the cost of the premium in comparison to the expense of losing your job.

Borrowing Options

Look into home-equity lines of credit; you may be able to borrow against your home and withdraw only what you need. Check to see if you can borrow against any insurance plans or retirement accounts you may have. This should only be considered as a last resort, as the penalties may cost far more than other options.

Interim Jobs or Temporary Positions

Contact a temporary employment agency. Although the job may not be permanent, it may help you bridge the economic divide in the interim. You never know: the company may so enamored with your contribution, they may offer you a permanent position.

Severance Packages

If you can, negotiate a severance package upon employment. If there is not one already in place, you may be able to negotiate some sort of agreement. Your prospective employer is taking a chance on you, just as much as you are taking a chance on them.

Freshen Up Your Resume

Always keep your resume updated. Include notable undertakings and statistics as they occur, since it is too easy to overlook those accomplishments down the line. Send your resume to any employment agencies or “head-hunters” you can find. Let the employment agencies do some of the leg work for you: it will give you a head start on finding a new job.

What's Your Perfect Job?Are you stuck in a dead-end job and on the hunt for a new, perfect job? Do you know what you are looking for? First, you need to define "perfect job." We all have different interests and one person's perfect career could be your most detestable nightmare. Take this quiz to learn more about discovering your perfect job!